Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW), the world-leading supplier of optical fiber, announced that FibreCo Telecommunications, a South African open-access network provider, is deploying Corning® optical fiber in its new ultra-high-speed, long-distance fiber optic network in South Africa.

The optical fiber cable contains both Corning® SMF-28e+® LL and LEAF® optical fibers. Phase 1 of FibreCo’s construction began with a 2,000-km link between Johannesburg and Cape Town connecting Bloemfontein, East London, and Port Elizabeth. The subsequent phases of the project will see additional routes being built to enhance network redundancy and resilience. The project’s total distance will cover 12,000 km.

“We are excited to utilize Corning optical fiber for our project,” said Arif Hussain, FibreCo CEO. “Many submarine optical cables now connect South Africa to the rest of the world and a significant increase in terrestrial fiber capacity supply is required. Our network will provide the necessary high-speed capacity in South Africa as well as the ability for our customers to easily upgrade their networks to higher data rates without the need to re-install fiber.”

This is the first deployment of SMF-28e+ LL fiber in South Africa. SMF-28e+ LL fiber offers a unique combination of low attenuation values and low polarization mode dispersion (PMD) with ITU G.652.D-compliant performance for longer spans and reach. Also, SMF-28e+ LL fiber enables more repair margin which is important when fiber is damaged or cut. “Corning’s SMF-28e+ LL and LEAF optical fibers have the lowest attenuation, or signal loss, specification in the industry in their respective categories,” said Barry Linchuck, division vice president and director, Worldwide Marketing, Corning Optical Fiber. “By using these products, FibreCo will have the ability to upgrade to even higher data rates as their customers demand new services.”

LEAF fiber is the most widely-deployed, non-zero dispersion shifted fiber. It also has lowest attenuation and largest effective area of any ITU-T G.655-compatible optical fiber, enabling networks to evolve from the current 10 Gb/s to the 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s systems of the future.

Construction of the FibreCo network began in April and the first link is expected to be completed in 2013.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary StatementsThis press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events. About Corning IncorporatedCorning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on more than 160 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions for a number of industries including semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy, and metrology.

About Fibre CoFibreCo was established in 2009. The company’s objective is to facilitate affordable and reliable high-speed Internel access for South African citizens and businesses. This investment in developing a national open-access terrestrial fiber optic network is an answer to the need for long-haul transmission infrastructure to meet the county’s aspirations for world-class broadband connectivity. FibreCo brings the ability to fund, deploy and manage a cost-effective high speed long-haul fiber network which will support the explosive growth in bandwidth requirements of the country anticipated over the coming years.

ZTE, China’s largest publicly listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions operating in over 140 countries, was awarded the contract for the construction of FibreCo’s network and supply of technology equipment. ZTE brings a wealth of technical expertise through their investment in R&D in the field of optical transmission and photonics, coupled with vast experience in the deployment of fiber optic networks worldwide.